Dikastis: The Call of the Bearer

Chapter 1: Tyler's Alherem

Who would have thought this winter in Manhattan would be so intense? It's incredible how the rooftops in this suburban neighborhood have frozen over. The city hasn't seen a chill like this in years. If it weren't for the Meyers, enjoying a true family feast filled with whiskey, laughter, and food, everything would feel dark and empty.

The midnight darkness mingled with the white snowflakes of a storm that didn't seem likely to stop anytime soon. Suddenly, a sharp sound of metal bells broke through the bitter, icy night.

"Johnny, do you hear that noise? Tyler hasn't even turned fifteen yet," Mike said, his heart racing. It was as if his pulse had turned into a drumbeat; he set his glass of scotch down on the table, pushed his chair back, and stood up abruptly.

"Cheer up! I didn't expect this today either, but now that it's started, we need to stay together," Johnny whispered, giving him a reassuring pat on the back.

Mike grabbed his coat from behind the door and tossed Johnny's into his face. They waved goodbye to the Meyers' family, who watched them with growing concern. Stepping outside, they were immediately engulfed by the freezing cold, which smothered the peace they had known just moments before.

On the way home, Mike's mind was consumed by thoughts of his family. Johnny's words of encouragement fell on deaf ears as they walked through the neighborhood. Each step seemed to add hundreds of worries—had the emissaries from the Fortress already reached his house? He could only imagine his children's reactions.

"I'll never get over how big your yard is and how imposing that massive gate looks," Johnny said, trying to distract him.

"And yet, look inside... those three dikastis standing like war statues at the door, overseeing the delivery of my son's Alherem, the same ones who... no, it's not worth remembering. Let's go in," Mike said, giving a brief wave to the three men at the entrance.

Two white tigers lay resting on the garden lawn, just as the dikastys ceremony manual described. Mike hurried to his house, ignoring the respectful bows of the three men at the door. The bells on their feet solved the mystery of the chiming sounds.

Johnny followed his friend to the entrance. Two of the men by the door shifted uncomfortably, their dark parkas with silver Viking-style buttons making them look solemn. They moved as if to confront him, but the stout man in the middle quickly restrained them.

"Are you really going to disobey a direct order from a guide?" Johnny asked, smirking. "Wow, how things have changed in the Fortress. Don't get me wrong, Bruce; I have no intention of interfering with Tyler's Alherem ceremony. It's in all our interests that he returns there with his new totem, right?"

"You're still the same troublemaker, Johnny," Bruce replied, his hand trembling with frustration.

"Just as I thought. Watchdogs only follow their masters' orders," Johnny muttered, a smirk on his lips.

Ignoring Bruce's muttered curses, Johnny entered the house and closed the door firmly behind him, exhaling in annoyance.

"Sorry for barging in like this. Bruce's pals created a bit of tension, and my mind wandered," he said.

"It's alright, Johnny. Thank you for being here to support us. We're going to wait for the delivery as a family. Make yourself comfortable—Janet made us some coffee. The kids are asleep upstairs," Mike replied, running his hand through his hair repeatedly.

A few minutes later, a delicate knock interrupted them. Janet bit her lip, jumped up, and gripped the cold door handle, her face pale.

"K-Karen?! But you..." Janet stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief, momentarily forgetting about Tyler's totem delivery.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Miller. My name is Katrina. I understand why you'd mistake me for my mother; it happens all the time. May I come in?" the young woman asked, smiling sweetly.